Curiosities

Monty Python’s Flying Circus – Just the Words [A Lie] – 2 Volumes Complete

First editions hardback [soft cover more common] published by Methuen in 1989.

Thick perfect bound, 325, 349 pages, laminated pictorial boards. Inside toned as always, the nature of the paper used.

We say “A Lie” in or title because there are illustrations from Python photographs in each volume – quite humorous if you get their wit.

Enough Python to get you through the winter and/or improve your skills at confusing others. Our favourite sketch – “Ten Seconds of Sex”

Double Python – feels rather greedy.

$40.00

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D.H. Lawrence’s John Thomas & Lady Jane – According to Spike Milligan – First Edition

First edition published by Michael Joseph, London in 1995.

John Thomas and Lady Jane was another take on Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence but was not published during his lifetime – after all the was quiet a curfuffle regarding Lady C and Lawrence hardly made a cent out of it.

Here Spike produces a surprising reprise of John Thomas and Lady Jane and we doubt if any of the bawdy references are omitted although a quite a few humorous elements are inserted [anti-pun intended]

A good clean copy [pun intended] octavo, 169 pages, good jacket, super condition.

Spike and D.H.L. – well he did re-write the Bible.

$35.00

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Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

No date or maker but this presentation was a specialty in the late Victorian / Edwardian era. Reference authority “Bracegirdle” shows a number of “outsized” examples but none quite like this.

In modern terms known as the spotted lantern fly. The insect is on the move and a potential threat in Australia – modelling has shown that it could survive well in western and north-western Victoria. When we say a threat, it was endemic to China and Vietnam but moved into South Korea in 2006, Japan in 2009 and the USA in 2014 … so the move is on.

Here the little blighter is beautifully preserved and presented in Canada Balsam … we know that CB was the mounters choice due its quality and the cursive narrative says so.

A microscopical rarity outsized mount of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

$150.00

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Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

A nice example of the interesting medal struck by the Rockhampton Coin Club and made in Brisbane by A.J. Parkes in 1982.

An uncirculated commemorative, 40 mm diameter, 40gms in copper alloy. Strong relief and a super example.

The obverse carries a design by artists Don Taylor of a miner / prospector on his knee observing his gold pan with some intensity, other mining accoutrements in the background. On the reverse we have an image taken from a 1908 photograph of the working mine … an image all too familiar to Voyager.

Still with its original information with its brief history of the Mine.

Mighty Mount Morgan commemorated in medal form, and it deserves it!

$50.00

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Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

Exceptional Museum quality example rarely found with so many remaining pieces. The only similar example we can find in this condition is displayed online at the virtual museum of the history of mineralogy referencing a “Private Collection”.

These field kits were used in Australia by explorers and geologists. They include apparatus and chemicals for grinding the sample, heating it and observing the colours in the flame to identify the constituent minerals. It has been used, which is great, but not effecting the quality of the contents.

Designed and manufactured by J.T. Letcher of Truro Cornwall and awarded the Society of Arts Silver Medal and the Colonel Croll Prize in International Competition in 1878. Each set guaranteed to equal that deposited at the Society’s House.

The use of the blowpipe was invented in Sweden in the 1700’s and further refined there at the Freiberg Mining Academy in the mid 19th C. This design by J.T. Letcher with its comprehensive accoutrements became the standard in the later Victorian period.

Original brass riveted mahogany box with escutcheon to lid. Contains a specially designed lift out tray with multiple compartments and layers containing tools, the blowpipe, a small anvil, rock hammer, spirit lamp and grease lamp, Numerous chemical reagents including the original “gold bead” in its tube. There is a agate pestle and mortar as well as a tiny crucible that we know was made by Royal Worcester.

The containers are made of box wood with names to top and with a lovely patina. Reagent bottles, miniature test tubes with labels, test tube holder and much more. Original platinum forceps.

The test papers box contains litmus, turmeric and brazil wood papers; along with Platinum wire and foil, tin foil and the tiny remnant of some magnesium. The minute bone spatula is still there … we could go on

The original under-label inside the lid describes the original contents and bar scissors we are struggling to see anything missing

The box still has it’s lock but the key is long gone. It has a worked patina and is still robust.

Something special in the mineral field. The Superior Set by the top maker of the day; along with respected Hobart retailer Walch label – try to find another one and then one like this!

$1,390.00

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The Dog’s Ear Book – Geoffrey Wilans and Ronald Searle

Published in 1958 by Max Parrish, London

Octavo, 107 pages illustrated throughout by the wittiest pen-smith Searle. Nice jacket, very good condition generally.

Probably a book for a “dog lover”, there are a few around.

Includes various snippets under the umbrella headings – Doggy Types; The History of the Dog [including something from a Tudor manuscript]; How to Make a Pal or Influence Your Dog; Do You Resemble a Dog? The Great Dog Campaign; Cruft’s and after; Doggy Problems; How to Take Your Dog Away for the Weekend; Beagling and finally the, all important, “A Dictionary of Dog terms.

Genuinely interesting and amusing.

The Dog – its not all about Cruft’s.

$35.00

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Monty Python’s Flying Circus – Just the Words [A Lie] – 2 Volumes Complete

D.H. Lawrence’s John Thomas & Lady Jane – According to Spike Milligan – First Edition

Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

The Dog’s Ear Book – Geoffrey Wilans and Ronald Searle

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